Walgreens took to the skies over Christianburg, Va., in October, testing drone deliveries. The Deerfield, Ill.-based drugstore chain partnered with Wing Aviation LLC, a Google subsidiary, to offer “store-to-door” delivery of health and wellness, food and beverage and convenience items. The drones can fly at 70 miles per hour and can carry a 3.3-pound package a range of 12 miles round trip. Once the drone arrives at its delivery site, it hovers about 23 feet above the ground as it lowers a tether to release the Walgreens package.
The chain also launched an in-store package pickup and return service at more than 8,000 locations. Walgreens joined a host of other retailers, including Urban Outfitters, Levi Strauss, Timbuk2 and more, by partnering with Narvar Concierge for the service. Any retailer on the Narvar platform can offer consumers the options to pick up orders or drop off packages at any retailer in the network.